One of the most prominent and leading Infantry wings in the Army, the Gajaba Regiment (GR) whose troops with their theme song, ‘Peramune Sita Helaya Rakina…..’ (‘Defending the nation from the frontline’) commemorated its 36th anniversary on a grand scale on Monday at Saliyapura.
The anniversary commemoration comprising floral wreath-laying, pirith chanting and almsgiving at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, remembrance of the founding fathers, military formalities and offering of alms to members of the Maha Sangha at the Regimental Headquarters, were meticulously undertaken under the close supervision of Army Commander and GR Colonel of the Regiment Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.
Monday’s Regimental Day ceremony at Saliyapura got to a start with the arrival of the day’s chief guest, Lieutenant General Silva, who first paid his respects to the monument of the founder of the GR, late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne.
A colourful and meticulously organized Guard of Honour in the parade ground saluted the Colonel of the Regiment and paved the way for him to address the troops.
“Our founder, late Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne not only founded this regiment, but also gave leadership to all aspects of its improvement while turning it to be a full-pledged infantry wing that emerged victorious in the battlefield. You should always be a guiding light to all other fellow regiments to reach greater heights in future. By being in the front, as our theme song expresses, we all should dedicate ourselves for the defence of the country as our GR forefathers did in the past,” Lieutenant General Silva said.
“We should remember all the 4,250 fallen GR war heroes who laid their lives for our future and keep in mind of 4,639 injured war heroes, many of whom are still under recuperation or rehabilitation. I believe the GR should set a precedent for future as one of the dedicated fighting wings in the Army,” he added. After a few minutes, a colourful pageant with hundreds of troops holding Buddhist flags aloft conducted 60 Buddhist monks to the HQ premises, preceded by Army drummers where the Army Commander respectfully welcomed them.
At the alms-hall, Ven. Mankadawala Piyarathana Nayake Thera before conducting religious observances delivered an anusasana and spoke highly of the GR’s victories and sacrifices with special mention of the contribution made by Lieutenant General Silva as a battle-hardened soldier who had valiantly stood by the country in the hour of need.
Similarly, Ven. Walahahengunawewe Dhammarathana Nayake Thera, Chief Incumbent at Mihintale delivered the gupthanumodena, the concluding oration on behalf of the Maha Sangha and commended the services of the Regiment in the past 36 years.
The almsgiving came to end with offer of pirikara pooja to all members of the Maha Sangha by the Army Commander and representative Senior Officers, spouses and children of fallen war heroes, disabled war heroes, Officers, Other Ranks and civil staff.
On Sunday evening, a pirith chanting session, held in the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi precincts invoked blessings on the GR’s forward-march, its troops, recovering war heroes and transferred merits to late war heroes.
The arrangements also wished prosperity and peace for the country and the Army at large during this meritorious project. The offer of heel daana (breakfast) to the monks at the monastery in the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises culminated the programme.
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